Hair Relaxer Lawsuits and Chemical Straightener Claims
Hair Relaxer Cancer Claims and Lawsuits
There are several known and potential risks that can cause uterine cancer and other cancers. A newly emerged uterine cancer risk is exposure to chemicals through hair straightening and relaxing treatments. These products are also commonly known as “chemical relaxers” or perm solutions, and they contain harsh chemicals that can be very dangerous if used incorrectly or over extended periods. As a result, our firm is actively investigating these claims for potential hair relaxer and straightener lawsuits and claims.
IMPORTANT: In addition to uterine cancer, hair relaxers and chemical straighteners may also cause other cancers and conditions, including ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and pre-term delivery.
If you have used chemical hair straighteners or relaxers and were later diagnosed with uterine cancer, you may qualify for a chemical relaxer lawsuit.
For a FREE, no-obligation case review, please call 1-800-525-7111 or complete the fast and easy form below. There are no upfront costs and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case — and you receive compensation.
“Can I File a Hair Straightener Lawsuit?”
You might qualify for a lawsuit against chemical hair relaxer manufacturers if you were diagnosed with uterine cancer, breast cancer, or another qualifying condition after short or long-term use of these products. The only way to determine if you may have a claim is to work with an experienced chemical relaxer cancer lawyer who can review the details of your case and evaluate potential next steps.
At Riddle & Brantley, our experienced attorneys can review your case by phone, email, text, or video conference, and no in-person meeting is required to get started on your case. We also have bilingual interpreters on staff for the convenience of our Spanish-speaking clients.
We’ve handled defective product cases for nearly 40 years and have recovered more than $665 million in compensation for victims since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below).
How to Qualify for a Hair Relaxer & Chemical Straightener Lawsuit
You may qualify for compensation in a hair relaxer claim or lawsuit if you meet the following criteria:
- Must have had exposure to one or more of the following products:
- Just for Me
- Soft & Beautiful
- Motions
- Dark & Lovely
- Olive Oil Girls
- Any lye or no-lye hair relaxers (multiple products)
- Must have been diagnosed with one of the following conditions:
- Uterine cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Uterine fibroids*
- Endometriosis
- Pre-term delivery
NOTE: At this time, claims related to uterine fibroids are being held in inventory and we are not filing lawsuits in these cases. Uterine fibroid claims may ultimately be compensable, but we are currently only filing lawsuits related to hair relaxer cancer claims (uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer) at this time.
Do Chemical Hair Relaxers and Straighteners Cause Cancer?
Does using chemical hair straighteners or hair relaxers cause uterine cancer?
There has been a rising concern among members of the public and medical professionals about the dangers of hair straightening chemicals in recent years. A recent study demonstrated that there is a significantly higher risk of uterine cancer among women who use chemical hair straighteners and relaxers regularly, particularly Black women.
According to Alexandra White, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Environment and Cancer Epidemiology group, “We estimated that 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would go on to develop uterine cancer by the age of 70; but for frequent users, that risk goes up to 4.05%. This doubling rate is concerning.”
This data means that just the occasional use of chemical hair straighteners and hair relaxers can increase the risk for uterine cancer, while frequent use puts women far more at risk for developing this dangerous disease later in life.
If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine cancer after using chemical relaxers or straighteners, you may qualify for compensation in a hair straightener lawsuit or claim. Call 1-800-525-7111 today for a free case review with our experienced attorneys.
The use of hair relaxer and straightener products may roughly double the risk of uterine cancer.
-Conclusion of 2022 NIH study
Health Problems Potentially Caused by Chemical Straighteners
Hair relaxers, sometimes called chemical straighteners, have been linked to various types of cancer and other health problems, including:
Uterine Cancer
As we’ve mentioned previously, there is significant evidence in the Sister Study and other studies that chemical hair straighteners may significantly elevate a woman’s risk for uterine cancer, especially after long-term use. While scientists are still gathering more concrete evidence between these products and uterine cancer, many experts believe women who use them regularly are at a much higher risk than those who use them infrequently or not at all.
Breast Cancer
There is a potential link between chemical hair relaxers and breast cancer. The Sister Study found that Black women who used chemical hair straighteners had a higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who didn’t. The study also found that the longer a woman used chemical hair straighteners, the greater her risk of developing breast cancer or other cancers.
The exact mechanism by which these chemicals may increase breast cancer risk is unknown, but it is thought that they may disrupt the normal development of breast tissue or cause hormone imbalances in women.
NOTE: Due to circumstances re: ongoing litigation, at this time, we cannot accept cases concerning breast cancer potentially due to chemical hair straighteners. Please stay tuned to our website for the latest updates.
Ovarian Cancer
While research is ongoing, chemicals contained in certain hair relaxer and chemical straightener products have been linked to ovarian cancer. Women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using certain hair relaxers may qualify for a hair relaxer ovarian cancer lawsuit or claim.
Uterine Fibroids
There is a growing body of evidence linking the use of chemical hair relaxers and straighteners to the development of uterine fibroids. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in the uterus and are a leading cause of hysterectomies in the United States.
Black women are especially susceptible to developing fibroids, and it is thought that the use of chemical relaxers may be a contributing factor. Relaxers contain harsh chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin and scalp and disrupt the normal functioning of the reproductive system, leading to the development of uterine fibroids.
Endometriosis
There is a potential link between chemical hair straighteners and endometriosis, although the research is inconclusive. Some studies suggest that the chemicals in relaxers and straighteners may be able to mimic the hormones that promote endometriosis growth. There is also evidence that these chemicals may be able to damage the lining of the uterus, making it more susceptible to endometriosis.
Pre-Term Delivery
There is a lot of speculation about a possible association between chemical hair straighteners and pre-term delivery or low birth weights. Several studies have shown inconclusive results linking chemical hair straighteners and hair oils with known endocrine disruptors with early deliveries, but they have yet to establish a definite link.
What is known is that these products contain chemicals that can affect the uterus and endocrine system, which may be why some women who use them experience pre-term delivery or low birth weight in their babies.
What Are Chemical Straighteners?
Chemical hair straighteners or hair relaxers are substances that relax the bonds between hair. They are sometimes used to straighten thick, naturally curly hair, but people also use them to make their hair look longer.
There are several different types of hair relaxers. One of the most common is a chemical relaxer, which contains ingredients like sodium hydroxide or lye. These ingredients make your hair more porous, which allows the chemicals in the relaxer to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft and loosen up its bonds.
What Are Phthalates?
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in plastics and other products. They are found in detergents, cosmetics, household cleaners, food packaging, and other items. There is concern that phthalates may be endocrine disruptors — substances that can interfere with the body’s hormones. Phthalates have also been linked to several health problems, including asthma, ADHD, and developmental delays in children.
Many of the chemical relaxers and straighteners potentially linked to uterine cancer contain phthalates.
Do Phthalates Cause Cancer?
A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to phthalates may contribute to certain types of cancer. Studies on mice have shown that chemicals that mimic estrogen can cause tumors. Some studies have also shown that phthalates can travel through the placenta and affect the developing fetus.
These findings suggest that phthalates could contribute to some types of cancer, potentially including uterine cancer, in people as well as animals.
What is the Link Between Hair Relaxers and Cancer?
Preliminary research has revealed that women’s uterine cancer risk may be elevated by using hair straighteners and relaxers.
Specifically, women who used permanent hair straighteners or hair relaxers at least six months of the year were at higher risk of uterine cancer than women who used them less often, according to the Sister Study, which was conducted on 33,497 U.S. women aged 35-74 years old.
This study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and conducted by researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing insight into an often-overlooked risk factor in many women’s lives.
History of Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuits
In October 2022, the first lawsuit was filed against a cosmetic manufacturing company for allegedly putting women at risk for increased uterine cancer with their chemical hair straightening products.
The lawsuit is being brought against L’Oréal, Namaste Laboratories LLC, Dabur International Ltd, and Godrej Consumer Products. These companies manufacture and distribute various types of hair relaxers or chemical hair straighteners.
The lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff, 32-year-old Jenny Mitchell of Missouri, developed uterine cancer that “was directly and proximately caused by her regular and prolonged exposure to phthalates and other endocrine disrupting chemicals found in Defendants’ hair care products.”
Legal experts will be watching this case carefully to see what the response of these defendants will be and what possible settlement amounts are available for women who have developed uterine cancer after using these products.
To be clear, as of early November 2022, defendants have strongly denied liability and/or wrongdoing associated with these claims.
“Can I File a Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuit?”
At Riddle & Brantley, we have years of experience advocating for people who have been harmed by the negligence of big companies. Our attorneys have over 225 years of combined legal experience.
If you believe that you developed uterine cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or pre-term birth potentially due to chemical hair straighteners, call us today at 1-800-525-7111 and speak with one of our experienced lawyers who can assess your case and help you file a claim if you qualify.
IMPORTANT: If you have any of the symptoms associated with uterine cancer, then please consult your family physician or OBGYN immediately.
You may qualify for compensation in a hair relaxer claim or lawsuit if you meet the following criteria:
- Must have had exposure to one or more of the following products:
- Just for Me
- Soft & Beautiful
- Motions
- Dark & Lovely
- Olive Oil Girls
- Any lye or no-lye hair relaxers (multiple products)
- Must have been diagnosed with one of the following conditions:
- Uterine cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Uterine fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Pre-term delivery
NOTE: At this time, claims related to uterine fibroids are being held in inventory and we are not filing lawsuits in these cases. Uterine fibroid claims may ultimately be compensable, but we are currently only filing lawsuits related to hair relaxer cancer claims (uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer) at this time.
What to Expect in Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuits
As this is a developing lawsuit, we don’t yet know what to expect from initial claims against these chemical hair straightening product manufacturers. However, similar faulty product cases may give us insight into what to expect from this case going forward.
Similar product liability cases include:
Bayer/Monsanto (2021)
Bayer has settled around 80 percent of 125,000 claims alleging they did not properly warn of increased cancer risks associated with their product, Roundup. Once all claims are finished, Bayer anticipates paying an estimated $11 billion in settlements.
Johnson & Johnson (2020)
Recently, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $100 million to 1,000+ plaintiffs to settle claims that the talc in their baby powder products contained cancer-causing asbestos and caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
IMPORTANT: These are examples of related product liability cases only, and should not be construed as a guarantee of any similar settlement or verdict. Every case is different, and the outcome of any claim or lawsuit will depend on the unique facts and circumstances in the case.
Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
If you’ve suffered uterine cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or pre-term delivery after short or long-term use of chemical hair straighteners (also known as chemical relaxers), you may be entitled to compensation. Call 1-800-525-7111 today for a free case review and let’s see how we can help.
Why Riddle & Brantley for Your Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
At Riddle & Brantley, we’re proud of the $665+ million in compensation we’ve secured for clients since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below), but we’re also proud of the way our clients describe their experience working with us:
“You’ll walk in the front door as a client but leave as family. They’re the absolute best.”
–Susan S., Riddle & Brantley client
Our experienced hair straightener and hair relaxer lawsuit attorneys have been recognized for their experience and results by many prestigious awards and memberships (see disclaimer below), including:
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- The National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- The Litigator Award
Led by attorney Gene Riddle, our hair straightener cancer attorneys have over 225 years of combined legal experience, and every client is supported by an entire staff of 50+ case managers, paralegals, investigators, and administrators.
“This settlement changed me and my family’s lives.”
–Linda B., Riddle & Brantley client
We are here to answer all your questions regarding a hair relaxer cancer lawsuit. Please call us at 1-800-525-7111 or fill out the form below for a FREE case review. You won’t be charged any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive compensation.
Justice Counts.
*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.
*** Disclaimer: An attorney must meet certain requirements to join these organizations or receive these awards. For more information on Membership Criteria for Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the Litigator Award, and other memberships, awards, and accolades, please visit our Membership Criteria page. These awards and memberships should not be construed as a promise or guarantee of a similar result. Each case is different and must be evaluated separately.